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CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
By: Michael Mike
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has dismissed the new methodology employed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in determining the level of unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria, describing it as “an act deliberately antithetical to Nigeria’s lived reality.”
CSJ’s statement was in response to the NBS’s release of its latest Nigeria Labour Force Statistics (NLFS) Report, which showed that unemployment in Nigeria fell from 5.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 4.1% in the first quarter of 2023.
CSJ rejected the NBS’s findings, arguing that they are not supported by the increasing unemployment in Nigeria since the last report in 2020 which reported 33.3% unemployment rate in Nigeria.
It said since 2020, Nigeria’s economic challenges have increased with galloping inflation, factory closures, rural dwellers who have been prevented by insecurity from planting and harvesting and a public sector with a moratorium on new recruitments.
The Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere said “the whole basis of a job report is to help the government to determine whether its plans, policies and laws geared at reducing unemployment are achieving the desired milestones, adding that: “What is the point of a job report that tells the government that more Nigerians are employed when it is a clear and notorious fact that unemployment is increasing?”
“The NBS is counting people who are working for at least one hour in a week or who are self-employed in low-productivity activities as ‘employed,’” said Onyekpere. “This is not an accurate reflection of the reality of the Nigerian labor market.”
He decried that the report t: “Simply to satisfy a fad, it is a waste of tax payers money to produce a report that adds no value to the Nigerian people and their economy,” stressing that CSJ believes that these statistics do not in any way reflect the prevailing economic challenges experienced by Nigerians, especially in recent times.
Before the latest report, Nigeria’s last unemployment data was released in the fourth quarter of 2020, leaving a substantial gap in our understanding of the employment situation. CSJ had previously emphasized the urgency for the NBS to provide up-to-date employment data for the years 2021 and 2022.
The statement said CSJ recognizes that a robust job report serves as a crucial tool for governmental planning and policy evaluation. However, the reported unemployment rate of 4.1% in the NLFS raises serious concerns about the relevance and accuracy of the methodology and the relevance of the findings to the lived experiences of Nigerians.
“This reported rate is incongruent with the economic challenges faced by a significant percentage of the population. “We call on the NBS to reconsider its methodology and ensure that it accurately captures the full spectrum of employment challenges faced by Nigerians. It is essential that job reports reflect the realities and provide an honest assessment of the economic landscape. Only through accurate data can the government develop effective strategies that deliver on its promises and address the pressing issues facing our nation,” Onyekpere said.
CSJ also called on the government to ignore the report, take steps to create more decent jobs and to improve the livelihoods of Nigerians.
CSJ Alleges Flawed Methodology in NBS Employment Report, Citing Discrepancies with Reality
News
Period poverty: NEEM Foundation distributes sanitary pads to over 300 student in Abuja
Period poverty: NEEM Foundation distributes sanitary pads to over 300 student in Abuja
By: Michael Mike
NEEM Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has distributed sanitary towels to over 300 students in Abuja as part of its commitment to end period poverty among young school girls,
The foundation carried out the empowerment scheme in collaboration with the Regent Schools Abuja, at the Junior Secondary School, JSS, Jabi 1, Abuja.
Head legal, Neem Foundation, Nancy Oyibo
said conversations around menstrual health and hygiene should be normalised, noting that access to menstrual hygiene products is crucial to healthy living, well being and dignity of all women and girls in the society.
She said empowering women to take charge of their menstrual health is not just essential but transformative.
Oyibo said: “We discovered some issues of health as some young girls cannot afford sanitary towels during their period. We thought it was imperative, following the rate of inflation to help the young ladies, the future of our country.”
She disclosed that “this is our second distribution in Abuja, we have also done few distributions in Maiduguri.”
She noted that the target goal is to create a pad bank in schools, as according to research carried out by the organisation revealed that female students sometimes miss school during the period of their menstrual flow.
She said: “This is just a step to many activities to be carried out in this light. We are going to take this all the way to where it needs to get to and to pass on this message so people can understand the effect this has on the education system for young girls.
“We do not want to have girls in situations where they are vulnerable and not proud of something that comes naturally. We want them to come confidently knowing they have nothing to worry about as they can compete with their male counterpart in school and ensure that they get the best out of it.
“For now, we are engaging mostly the girls as we realized that, most of them are shy to discuss topics related to menstrual hygiene, so this stage is to have an interaction with them, to make them comfortable. This factor made us ensure we have male personnel among us to talk about these issues as a gradual process, then subsequently, we include the boys in the discuss.
“This whole situations stems from the home as some homes do not seem it right to discuss issues of menstrual hygiene publicly. This is how some people grew up and we are trying to change that narrative with a focus on spreading the word to everyone.
During an interactive section with the student, Legal Assistant Neem, Aliyyah Abdulkadir disclosed that the organisation saw it necessary to provide sanitary towels from the opinion that, you girls should not stay out of school, or have to choose between school and menstrual care.
She charged the students to be agent of change, in making concerted efforts to educate others in a bid to break the culture of silence.
For her part, the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Aisha Muniru Mai, speaking on the up coming 16 days activism on Violence Against Women, said: “We are keying into the issues with specific interest to access to education.
“One of the things we overlook is the period poverty. As if you do not have access to menstrual hygiene products, it will be difficult to go to school and learn. As such we are highlighting period poverty, teaching the children the signs and things they need to be aware of to identify violence and report to appropriate quarters.
The Director/Principal, JSS, Jabi 1, Dr. Grace Ifeyinwa Onyeanusi expressed profound gratitude to NEEM Foundation for the kind gesture as it will go a long way in helping the students maintain hygiene during menstruation.
One of the beneficiaries, A JSS 3 student Tega Praise Ogaga, expressed her appreciation to NEEM Foundation, disclosing how sometimes she is scared to approach her parents to purchase sanitary towels during menstruation and will have to use a single pad for a long period.
She said, “Sometimes I resolve to using rags or more than one pant, which is very discomforting, but with the sanitary towels from NEEM Foundation, I will not have to make any demands from my parents in a while.
Neem Foundation is a leading crisis response organisation committed to promoting the protection and wellbeing of populations and communities living in contexts affected by conflict, violence, and fragility.
Period poverty: NEEM Foundation distributes sanitary pads to over 300 student in Abuja
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Flame Initiatives, RCCG empowers widows in FCT
Flame Initiatives, RCCG empowers widows in FCT
By: Michael Mike
As part of its commitment to foster empowerment in marginalised communities, Flame Initiatives, a Non-Governmental Organisation under the CINTA Widows Empowerment Programme, has donated food items, funds, and other materials to widows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The outreach carried out in Abuja, was in collaboration with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Lord’s Place.
Speaking, the Lead Pastor of the RCCG, the Lord’s Place, Pastor Ola Omosebi, charged the Federal government to make concerted efforts to enhance the current economic situation facing the country, deploying urgent solutions without altering long-term policies.
Pastor Omosebi said the church is emulating how Christ fed 5,000 persons during famine while asking the government to act fast to ameliorate the suffering of the people.
“The major direction of this event is to have at least one day a year where widows are brought together and empowered with soft skills, business skills, enterprise skills and encouragement. One of the things this program offers is hope. “
He urged the government to support widows through sustainable initiatives. Providing a dedicated secretariat advocating for women, particularly widows, with government representatives.
“People are struggling to make ends meet, and the prolonged hardship is leading to depression, despair, and even death. The government must prioritize quick-fix solutions alongside long-term plans to restore hope and confidence in the economy.”
Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat of the FCT Administration (FCTA), Dr Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, expressed empathy for the resilient widows, noting that one cannot understand what it means to be in their shoes.
Laniyi, represented by her Personal Assistant, Mrs. Kemi Samuel, noted the fundamental role a husband/father plays, stating that loss can change lives and test the core of beings.
She celebrated the widows for their resilience and strength while acknowledging the challenges amidst the hardship and grief come the capacity to adapt.
She said, “We are here to support one another. Let today be a reminder to encourage and uplift one another.
“It’s an honour to celebrate strength, resilience, and community.
She noted that the event is a testament to the extraordinary courage and unwavering determination of everyone who has navigated the challenges of widows.
Also, the President of Widows Organisation International FCT Chapter, Aisha Baba Ringo, advised widows to persevere and be hardworking.
According to her, “Being a widow doesn’t mean all hope is lost, it’s also not a stigma”.
A beneficiary of the programme, Ms Oyeyemi Obende, said the programme has been educative, innovative and supportive. She advised widows not to give up even if the world looked down on them.
Flame Initiatives was established to provide the disadvantaged and mainly rural population with relief materials, motivation, and empowerment to improve their physical and social well-being. Their main objective is to drive social change in communities by facilitating development in the public and private sectors.
Flame Initiatives, RCCG empowers widows in FCT
News
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION RECEIVES MD NELFUND IN MAIDUGURI; INTERFACES WITH STUDENTS AND ERADICATORS
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION RECEIVES MD NELFUND IN MAIDUGURI; INTERFACES WITH STUDENTS AND ERADICATORS
By: Our Reporter
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, has visited Borno State to engage with students, educators, and government officials, highlighting the benefits of the NELFUND initiative.
NELFUND, an initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to provide all higher institution students with access to financial resources, enabling them to pursue their educational goals and aspirations at ease.
The Managing Director NELFUND Akintunde Sawyerr emphasized his commitment to revitalizing education in the country, stating that the loan programme is designed to also reduce unproductivity and unhappiness amongst Nigerians students, which often lead to broader societal issues.
Sawyerr explained The loan’s modalities, which include creating an online profile as a prerequisite for application, clarifying that the loan is interest-free and does not require a fixed repayment period, making it accessible and flexible for students.
Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, reiterated the state government’s commitment to facilitating student access to the loan, hence announced the establishment of a dedicated desk officer for NELFUND in the state Ali Sherriff to work in collaboration with the Special Adviser to governor Zulum on Higher Education and other educators.
This initiative, Wakilbe added will guide students throughout the application process and ensure they fully understand THE benefits of the loan, which he described as a low-risk grant and encouraged all eligible students to take advantage of the programme.
During the session, questions were raised seeking further clarification, where the Managing Director provided detailed responses, shedding more light on the programme and its benefits.
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION RECEIVES MD NELFUND IN MAIDUGURI; INTERFACES WITH STUDENTS AND ERADICATORS
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